quasiLog

Sumedh

2011-12-18T19:48:00.001+05:30

Sumedh, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Cabbages at sunset

2011-12-15T17:07:00.001+05:30

Cabbages at sunset, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Hero Log

2011-09-01T04:00:00.000+05:30

Hero Log

Faith

2011-08-13T10:34:00.002+05:30

Faith, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Survives.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Danger

2011-08-05T12:52:00.002+05:30

Danger, originally uploaded by _quasi.

440 VOLTS.

These boxes are everywhere, control valves for the electronic blood of the new life form which are our cities.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Trupz

2011-07-25T22:47:00.002+05:30

Trupz, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Batata bhaji, chai and Hari Puttar bashing with Po, Mr.&Mrs Deshmukh and Sugreev.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Vevek Belhekar

2011-07-25T13:54:00.003+05:30

Vevek Belhekar, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Portraits of the soul.

Friendly banter has such positive energy about it. To sit around with friends and crack silly jokes and laugh and laugh ... best time you can spend.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

In respect of

2011-07-18T12:25:00.003+05:30

Adi and his Sitar. Instruments of magical sounds ...

It was dark inside. The rain fell quietly outside. Adi and Chota, both lost in the strings ...

Note: All photos shot with the Nokia N900 phone camera.

Chota Father

2011-07-17T02:11:00.003+05:30

Chota Father, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Of the music.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Happy Birthday

2011-07-16T18:38:00.002+05:30

Happy Birthday, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Dudez with the magic fingers ...

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Pictures

2011-07-16T15:30:00.003+05:30

Pictures, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

On the wall.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Entanglements

2011-07-16T05:17:00.004+05:30

Entanglements, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Of a new life.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Alternate

2011-07-16T04:17:00.003+05:30

Alternate, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Style

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Evening

2011-07-16T03:34:00.005+05:30

Evening, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Walk

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Unnu's transporter

2011-07-14T15:31:00.003+05:30

Unnu's transporter, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Getting an overhaul.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Daily Elixer

2011-07-14T12:04:00.003+05:30

Daily Elixer, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

A proverbial glass half full of sweetness. Of optimism.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Pensive

2011-07-14T00:56:00.004+05:30

Pensive, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Of a punctured tyre and slanting lines.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

why ...

2011-05-09T00:09:00.005+05:30

On the road

Back to the blog. After a long while. Talking to myself. For the benefit of my reading in the future. What's the point of a diary which is public ?? Trying to reduce my insignificance in this world ? To go unheard and unseen would be so much less than to have the a hope of a chance of some random travelers seeing this. Or an even remoter hope of them understanding. But I digress ...

Does one really fall in love just like that ? Why do we do it ? Does it just happen ? I dont know, really... I think maybe one meets someone and there is some 'connection' ... some reason to warm to the person. That is just the ingredients there. You need a vessel too. The frame of mind to want to let the other person under your skin (like Jude was advised)... And then there needs to be the fire. The process of actually cooking. I think love only happens if you are willing to cook. It takes time to know someone. To trust someone. To let someone in your life. ....

Maybe. Maybe not.

Duh. 'nuff of this now.

Me

2011-04-02T20:21:00.002+05:30

Me, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Tea at kaka's. Sachin is out. Today was a hot day. The ride from Kolhapur was as if through an oven.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

The fast bus.

2011-04-01T14:12:00.003+05:30

The fast bus., originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

In the brittle april afternoon heat she flew down the long highway. Guided by the resolute hands and white hair of the mahoot. Deftly weaving around slow moving vile trucks. Charging down on the tum-tums. Hopping out of the way of the nimble dancers.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

The invitation

2011-03-16T22:10:00.005+05:30

Wildflowers, by quasi

The Invitation:

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

by
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/
(via Madhu Reddy)

Early morning at Lakhangaon

2011-02-06T07:05:00.002+05:30

Early morning at Lakhangaon, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Missal Pav

2011-01-07T02:52:00.002+05:30

Missal Pav, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

The folks had got some sweetish milk bread from Kolhapur. So I made some ussal, add some farsan, onion and we had a merry missal for dinner!

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Fog!

2011-01-05T08:42:00.002+05:30

Fog!, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

I think today was the earliest I have woken up this winter. Got to see some fog.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

The long road

2011-01-02T15:01:00.002+05:30

The long road, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

The hills were shrouded with an uncertain haze
Everything covered with a shawl of the white
The muted sun and the cold wind
The long road ahead, no left no right.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Leaving lonavala

2011-01-02T14:53:00.002+05:30

Leaving lonavala, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Me and my bike.

A few kilometers outside Lonavala. I stopped to take stock of myself. And to look around. Is that not what travelers should do ? I was alone on the bike and the road ahead seemed longer than it was. Hope 2011 takes me places.

p.s. Happy New Year all.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Leaning chairs

2010-12-30T15:00:00.002+05:30

Leaning chairs, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Bad design. Funny stacks.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Ceremony of faith

2010-12-30T14:29:00.002+05:30

Ceremony of faith, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Ceremony of faith and commitment. I used to hate these. But now I can tolerate them. It is nice to be part of someone elses happy time. To be the supportive guest. I guess.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Food for thought

2010-12-28T01:20:00.002+05:30

Food for thought, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Some std. chakna after a long while. Sydi bar is has its own charm.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Rustic Life

2010-12-20T16:20:00.000+05:30

This year almost finishing. Some quiet travel. A little peace. Work. Friends. Fun. Spark. Hope.

Night pleasures

2010-12-19T20:35:00.002+05:30

Night pleasures, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Chai is over. Time to close. It is cold.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Tense fence

2010-12-17T00:56:00.003+05:30

Tense fense, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

The fence
was tense.
A strong gust
and it could bust.
The dogs peed
in the weed.
The buffalo could
break its wood.
One day a clown
would tear it down ...

Serious Observations of a Funny World

The bench

2010-12-16T19:20:00.002+05:30

The bench, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

It is strange that sometimes something uncomfortable can be so comforting. Maybe because our ass is dumb...?

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Free

2010-12-16T02:08:00.003+05:30

free

the storm gathering
in the abyss of your eyes
the thunder, the lightning
and all the cries

no one to hear
no one is near
rain cold on your face
above you plead your case

wind in your feet
you drag through eternity
blood on your nails
you scratch through uncertainty

deep within, the wail grows loud
outside, the fading sky
desperate and grey as the rain cloud
washing away the mighty high

search as much, the spark is lost
extinguished and extinct
the magic spell uncast
everything soon indistinct

on the lonely hill slope,
in the shadow of a tree
all you do is hope,
that one day you will be free.

~quasi 08 August 2003

Parked bike

2010-12-15T21:15:00.002+05:30

Parked bike, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Night-time. Solitary parked bike.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Taljai devi mandir, Tikona

2010-12-12T12:59:00.002+05:30

Taljai devi mandir, Tikona, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

You will find such on every fort. The protector, the goddess of the fort. The ancients had a trait not found much nowadays - faith.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Tikona

2010-12-12T12:44:00.002+05:30

Tikona, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Am almost up the fort. There is a cold wind blowing. But I sit and wait.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Tung

2010-12-12T12:39:00.002+05:30

Tung, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Pavna waters in the foreground. The wind is chilly. The sun's soft rays are so soothing.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Tapri

2010-12-10T13:21:00.003+05:30

Tapri, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Our place of general time pass and some food. The ubiquitous 'tapri'.

Serious Observations Of a Funny World.

Orange Sun

2010-12-09T04:39:00.003+05:30

Orange Sun

the wet grass of the morning
and the tiny flowers in the dew
the yellow rays of an orange sun
and the sky so blue
yeah yeah hmmmmm hmmmmmm
yeah, this is the place where I live

the mystic dance of the plastic bee
flower to flower as I watch in glee
the laughing brook with it's spirit so free
and the cool shade of the lonely tree
yeah yeah hmmmmm hmmmmmm
yeah, this is the place where I live

the joyous bird with his morning song
and the cotton clouds all along
the sultry noon with its silent scream
and the evening with its orange dream.
yeah yeah hmmmmm hmmmmmm
yeah, this is the place where I live

into the dusk of the dying day
the sparks from the fires start to play
hungry eyes and the meal is done
and again the dream of the orange sun
yeah yeah hmmmmm hmmmmmm
yeah, this is the place where I live

pale stars in the darkening sky
and then the moon begins to fly
right across this jeweled dome
on his nightly journey home
yeah yeah hmmmmm hmmmmmm
yeah, this is the place where I live

then at the crack of dawn
with the world awaking all around
the first rays of the orange sun
give life to every one...
yeah yeah hmmmmm hmmmmmm
yeah, this is the place where I live

~quasi Sept 2001

Cave

2010-12-04T00:05:00.002+05:30

Cave

Inside the cave of my mind
where the thoughtful bats hang
nobody will ever remind
you, that your insanely humorous gang
has finally fallen behind

the cave is deep
and sometimes the cave is shallow
when the bats start to weep
even the rocky walls sound hollow

there is water in the cave
what a wonderful gift he gave
now we can eat and drink
and think
about what is to come
the whole world drowning in rum

at last! there is company for the bats
we are being invaded by the rats
if the insane humour goes from the eyes
you can see the stark emptiness that lies
in the vast void behind
called the cave of my mind...

quasi 6 Apr 2002

Good Bye Mumbai

2010-01-06T20:29:00.000+05:30

Time has come to go. Feels sad. This has been my home all my life. Kalina, Campus, The Naka, Cleartrip, Triveni, Palinaka and Carvalo's, Matunga Mughal Road ...

Dukkar, Chati, Coconut, Ajju, Peeyush, Sheerish, VP, Medha, Preeti, Amod, Sharvari, Nabs, Sarang, Pradnesh, Pappu, Shekar, Pakya, Zondya, Sugreev, Soham, Shadab, Shabbir, Shiva, Sandeep, Vinay, Vinu, Vasu, Mihir, Gore, Tyo, Trupti, Bakchod, Dojo, Hrush, Elvis, Happy, Sup, Vishu, Khobra, Dinya, Busty, Shot, Taklya, Mhatre, Percy, Milu, Chota, Chavri, B and G, and-anyone-I-missed -- salutes.

Matheran Dec 2009

2010-01-05T18:38:00.001+05:30

EoY 2009

2010-01-04T12:48:00.000+05:30

Percy and Harishchandragad

2009 has finished. It brought me peace.

Malshej Ghat

Dinya looking at the sunset

MTDC cottages

Chota and Dinya

3 Idiots

Pimpalgaon dam reservoir

Wild Flowers

NOTE: To view all photos in larger size, click on them to visit their flickr page and then click 'all sizes' from the icons on top of the photo.

In search of the high grasslands ...

2009-12-27T22:48:00.000+05:30

flowers and cactus

Sometimes one sees more of oneself, suddenly and without a mirror. Suddenly, because largely one is blissfully unaware and unconcerned of most of what or who he is. The realisation stikes like a lightening bolt, gifting you a moment of bright visibility.

Riding through the hills, looking for that faint memory of a vision of beautiful country which I had seen several years ago, I was a happy guy. Then in the biting cold of the late evening, what that bolt did was to light up the world and show me the many corners I have. I manage to bring out such extreme and sometime, uncharacteristically irrational, reactions out of people. Bringing out the worst in people is a thing I wish I was not able to do.

We rode out 175km to a small beautiful village called Brahmanwada in the hills. Ate a banana and headed back. The high pastures were there, spread thin over the bald hills. I had been here in October when the grass had been lush with the occasional late monsoon shower. We bid adieu to the Sun in the small ghat. A little before Malshej, in a village dhaba we had hot missal pav and tea. It got very cold. We had, predictably, like fools, had only one light jacket and one helmet between the two of us. All the way back up to Kalyan it was bone numbing cold. The windchill made the jaw muscles to stiffen and get a cramp, the head to go so cold that it started aching, the ears to feel numb with the cold going deep inside. I was wearing open sandals which added to the discomfort.

But such are the ways of the fool ...

white

thorn tree and a bed of flowers

tree

the hills and the grass

a beautiful small ghat

sunset amongst the hills

Malshej Ghat

Bhairavgad, Malshej

Sunset flowers

2009-12-23T22:54:00.000+05:30

घाणेरी (Ghaneri) on the road side, catching the setting sun's light

A couple of weeks back, on a Sunday, I travelled to pune to meet the family and especially Chiu. She had sweetly repeated "Abhi kaka Abhi kaka Abhi kaka" on the phone many times and I had to meet her.

On the 14 Unmesh got very restless so we headed (very late) for Sinhagad on his Unicorn. But we were Very late. So we ended up watching the sun set over Khadakwasla instead. Did some contemplation. Clicked some photos. And headed back.

Next day we got up early 5am and left for Mumbai on the bike. The Unicorn is a good bike. On the westerly bypass from Warze to Dehu Road it was super chilly and I was shivering all the time. It eased of later. At Lonavala we had an early tea on a roadside tapri.

घाणेरी (Ghaneri)

Sunset

To Matheran (part VI) : of day wonderings and the exit

2009-12-16T21:23:00.003+05:30

sunset at echo point

Next day we went out for lunch and came back only after dinner having roamed around aimlessly. At the lake we were invaded by a school picnic. Caught the setting sun at Echo point. The sky lit up crazily for about 5 minutes 10 minutes after sunset with fantastic colours when the upper clouds still reflected the set sun's light.

Next day we got up early - 5am - and left by 05:50. It was an 90 minute walk to Dasturi. We crossed a mini dust cloud in the village were teams of 2 sweepers were cleaning the main street in tandem. Then there were the early leavers, mostly on horse back or the early sunrise seekers also on horseback. We trodded on on foot.

At Dasturi, the bikes were warmed up, helmets collected from the shop there, bodies wrapped for the bike ride - and on the way we were. The sun was just rising and the low hills were just poking theirs heads out from the fog shrouded valley. It was comfortably cold. Then we crossed the hump at the Neral fork and entered the valley on the other side. The sun, which was a white disk till now, suddenly completely vanished and we were immersed in the thick fog. Visibility came down to a few meters and all the denizens of the road switched their lights on. It became teeth chattering cold. Water condensed on everything, including the eyelashes. Thus we rode into Karjat, wet, shivering, from this unrelentingly cold white world.

Here we found warmth in tea, vada pav's and kanda bhaji's. All fresh from the stove. Then we headed back to our old world ...

Note: All the photos have details which are better enjoyed in larger size: click on the image and then 'all sizes'. They are part of the Matheran Dec 2009 set on Flickr.

flowers on the lake Charlotte

Lake Charlotte

Tea under the trees

overgrown

old house

old house

broken wall

ghat

fog shrouded valley

To Matheran (part V) : Night at the house

2009-12-16T19:40:00.002+05:30

Relaxing after we reached home

So after food and rambling around in the night, we went home to roost. We were tired. We relaxed. Cracked jokes from a different dimension. Talked. Photographed sundry stuff around.

Matheran with its heavy rains and being in the clouds for 2-3 months every year takes a heavy toll on all material which do not like water. Iron supplies rust super fast. Other things rot if not taken care of. The monkeys make it necessary to bar and grill and mesh everything. You dare not leave any doors or windows open otherwise ...

Percy

rust

an old lock

anti monkey grill

decay

gates

'on'

To Matheran (part IV) : Night Ramblings

2009-12-12T12:48:00.001+05:30

where the path meets the road

After the sunset we left to find food and take in the village and its lights. I love photographing in the night. The darkness and the light are very moody. The shadows makes mundane things appear interesting and mysterious. To capture that feeling and ambiance is the interesting challenge.

A few years ago, on my first trip to Matheran with Batata, I had roamed the streets in the night armed with a tripod and my Dynax 5 film camera.

The photos are best enjoyed in large size to see all the details of the night. Click on them to go to their flickr page and do 'all sizes' to see the larger version. They are part of the Flickr Matheran Dec 2009 Set.

Harshu's house

Tiwari's place in the background

Street Scene

an entrance

small restaurant, freshly painted

resort for the tourists

barred entrance

a house and a board

door

fence

a cross

chatting while I photograph

street lamps and wires

wall and path

overgrown

cobbler

giant wheel

decked up, come into my parlor

To Matheran (part III) : The glade

2009-12-10T18:29:00.000+05:30

The galde near Harshu's house.

Deep in the forest, at the edge of the valley, there is this glade. We can see Irshal and Prabal and the sunsets. We can see airplanes passing by high above. In a silent night we can hear the murmur of the traffic from the expressway and see its glow. We can see stars galore and the occasional man made satellite as it makes it way across silently reflecting the sun's light. We can sit and talk endless wisdom. We can sit still and listen to the forest and its myriad sounds. We can go mad and laugh till it aches. One of those places you feel comfortably secluded.

After the refreshing walk from Dasturi we reached the market and had breakfast of bhaji chapati and ussal-wada pav at Katkar's. Then continued to Harshu's place, which is a further 45 minutes walk. We had had only a few hours of sleep the previous night so we crashed when we reached. Got up and went to the glade just in time to catch the sunset.

Percy and the Gavankar residence

Going to the glade

yellowed grass

Percy and Harshu

Percy clicking the sunset

To Matheran (part II) : The broom seller and the cold drink stall

2009-12-09T23:15:00.001+05:30

The broom seller

This woman was carrying that huge load of brooms on her head and a child in a sling. Her older kid walked alongside. They both were bare feet. The train track is treacherous on the feet - even with shoes on - with all the stones. She stopped by the cold drink stall for a rest. I guess buying a cold drink was out of question, but the company of people was better than sitting alone. Such is Irony. Such is life.

We have had limbu or kokum sherbat at this stall for a few years now. He had started with just a table in a clearing next to the tracks. Slowly the place has transformed into a nice clean joint where people rest. The journey from Dasturi to the market takes about 45 minutes of pleasant walking. One can follow the road or one can hop onto the tracks and follow them from Aman Lodge station. Just before the stall, the track passes near the edge of the valley and you have a fantastic view of Garbett point.

After the 26th July 2005 rains much of this side was washed away and the tracks had hung in empty air. I had crossed them in the night in the following November without knowing about the landslides. It had been scary to see them in the daylight when we were returning. Now the tracks have been restored and also the train service. But all along the tracks at regular intervals they have put up advertising poles which are very ugly and are an eyesore. But I guess it was an attempt to collect money for the tracks as well as for the village.

The cold drink stall at "Stop and Rest Point"

To Matheran (part I)

2009-12-09T10:26:00.003+05:30

Break of dawn, Goregaon.

So we were on our way to Matheran again. After more than a year. Batata, me and Percy. We left at 6:30 in the morning, only half an hour later than planned. It was one of those rare occasions when I get to see a day break in the city.

The ride to Panvel was uneventful and pleasant. Batata was waiting for us at Shri Datta Snacks. We waited among the hordes of weekend travelers for our chance at one of the few tables to eat. The missal here is hot and spicy. Tea after the missal is like liquid chili on the tongue.

We left, making way for Chowk fata and then further on to Karjat. The road is in bad shape now. We took a short contemplation break at the base of the Matheran ghats where the roads forks. The ghat climb is exciting and refreshing. As we go up and up the surrounding countryside unfolds magically. The air develops a nip and you can smell the forest and its wildflowers. At Dasturi while parking Batata met with one of the employees of their school - the same dude we had shamelessly gotten our dinner from in the past. Because of him we could take advantage of the exemption of tourist tax and parking fees for people who have houses there.

There were lots of people on the way, this being Sunday morning. We had a chitter chatter walk to the market.

Pylons and Mudflats on the Thane creek.

Ghanshyam Sports

2009-12-03T02:44:00.000+05:30

Ghanshyam Sports, Ruia Naka

I finally got my Panasonic LX3!! 24mm f2. :) I have waited for this one since it launched late 2008! It was not available in India at all till a couple of months back and then too only a piece or so. I wanted a black one, but got a silver one. But only one piece was available so I took it - what's in looks, anyway?

The firmware was 1.0 so first thing updated it to the latest 2.1. Handling etc. are fantastic. I am really impressed with this one. The low light performance has been really crazy. I could not shoot night scenes like these except with my dslr+fast prime and at high ISO's.

Lets see where it takes me ...

Cloudy Afternoon

2009-12-02T01:05:00.000+05:30

Top of the Khandala ghat.

On the way to Mahabaleshwar. Over the last couple of year I have traveled this road at regular intervals for a regular purpose. Mahabaleshwar with a few close friends. We have seen all there is to see there, per say. But still we find a nice peace in the now familiar surrounds. The Chinese gadi-walla, Bahadur, knows us. The Anarkali staff know us. We know the MTDC bugs and mosquitoes and monkeys and dogs. Good fun.

Being Boring

2009-11-30T08:45:00.000+05:30

Life in a Window. Devrukh

Inspired by a post by enbiem I looked up a song I used to listen when much younger - "Being Boring" by the Pet Shop Boys. (who, BTW, I was introduced to, by Alok Tiwari). Being Boring has never been more relevant then ... now().

BEING BORING - Pet Shop Boys

I came across a cache of old photos
And invitations to teenage parties
"Dress in white" one said, with quotations
From someone's wife, a famous writer
In the nineteen-twenties
When you're young you find inspiration
In anyone who's ever gone
And opened up a closing door

She said: "We were never feeling bored

'Cause we were never being boring
We had too much time to find for ourselves
And we were never being boring
We dressed up and fought, then thought: "Make amends"
And we were never holding back or worried that
Time would come to an end

When I went I left from the station
With a haversack and some trepidation
Someone said: "If you're not careful
You'll have nothing left and nothing to care for
In the nineteen-seventies"
But I sat back and looking forward
My shoes were high and I had scored
I'd bolted through a closing door
I would never find myself feeling bored

'Cause we were never being boring
We had too much time to find for ourselves
And we were never being boring
We dressed up and fought, then thought: "Make amends"
And we were never holding back or worried that
Time would come to an end
We were always hoping that, looking back
You could always rely on a friend

Now I sit with different faces
In rented rooms and foreign places
All the people I was kissing
Some are here and some are missing
In the nineteen-nineties
I never dreamt that I would get to be
The creature that I always meant to be
But I thought in spite of dreams
You'd be sitting somewhere here with me

'Cause we were never being boring
We had too much time to find for ourselves
And we were never being boring
We dressed up and fought, then thought: "Make amends"
And we were never holding back or worried that
Time would come to an end
We were always hoping that, looking back
You could always rely on a friend

And we were never being boring
We had too much time to find for ourselves
And we were never being boring
We dressed up and fought, then thought: "Make amends"
And we were never being boring
We were never being bored
'Cause we were never being boring
We were never being bored

Bhairavgad, Malshej

2009-11-29T02:37:00.000+05:30

The beautiful dyke of Bhairavgad in the Malshej.

A slice of life

2009-11-24T14:22:00.001+05:30

The back side of Dindoshi. I have been trapped in a room with a window. I see life far below, jostling for breathing space. Life in the city. Tightly packed. On first thought one wonders why people choose this over the fresh air of their villages. But I guess the buzz of life and excitement of being amidst the multitudes here cannot compare to the boredom and lethargy of some remote spot.

I crave that for I have scarce had it. We all want what we have not. The dark lords of the city lure many here, with glamorous and exciting illusions, to be trapped willingly. Others, unwilling, see fleeting glimpses of various exits only to not be able to reach them or to be dragged back from the very brink.

We all are trapped. Only the brave and the blessed escape.

Pathanwadi etc.

2009-11-23T10:57:00.001+05:30

Slums. Tightly packed 1,2,3 storied shacks. The hill is taken. A massive population has invaded. Up to 10 people sometimes live in tiny rooms of 60sqft with ceilings so low that you have to stoop when you stand up. The lanes reaching the remotest of remote living spaces are also the paths for the sewers and pipe carrying water to internet bandwidth. The irony is that in this sordid space, of top of these 'buildings', you will see satellite TV dishes galore.

Layers of the city

2009-11-22T12:43:00.000+05:30

The concrete jungle and shanties on the encroached hills.

Stone quarries on the Mahape - Shil Phata road

2009-11-21T14:47:00.000+05:30

Our short bike trip took us on the erstwhile scenic road towards the Kalyan. These low rolling hills surrounding Mumbai were very beautiful - until the time when the whole area became an industrial zone. Especially chemical industries. Now the industries too have moved to greener pastures, so to speak, leaving behind a stench in the air, a collection of old factories, ugly urbanized and heavily populated 'worker' towns and the remains of the rollings hills in the background.

Here large parts of the hill side are being eaten away to feed the construction demon created because of the new industries coming up amongst the old. The Parsic hills were the first to be eaten. Now all the other surrounding rolling hills.

Powai Lake past sunset.

2009-11-20T02:59:00.003+05:30

Powai Lake past sunset

We were returning from the short bike trip to shil fata... accompanied by sundry drops of cold November rain. The sun had long set - when we were on the Airoli bridge - but the sky still held some light. So while passing the Powai lake, suddenly I took a U-turn and clicked these. About 30 minutes past sunset.

Vashi Bridge

2009-11-16T13:19:00.001+05:30

I have been stuck at home for far too long. I want to go to Bhandardhara. I want to go to Devrukh. I want to go to Kaas. And I also want to go to Matheran. But none is happening.

I tried and tried to go for a day biking trip. zilch. not happened. Finally I got fed up and just left at 4pm on Sunday. Me and Percy on the Avenger. We went up to shil-phata and came back. It was better than ajibat nothing. :)

This is the Vashi bridge as seen from the Airoli bridge. Clicked with the old Minolta S414. The weather was heavily overcast. We got a few drops of cold rain on us most of our way back.

Cauliflower in white gravy

2009-11-14T02:57:00.000+05:30

Today I thought I will make some bhaji without the usual masalas. I have been cooking with chilli power and 'kala' masal for the past week .. gavari, dodki, tondli, batata and their various mixes. So this one was totally experimental. I did not refer to any recipe for tips. :) I had a box of coconut milk, so I decided to do this white. It turned out pretty OK. 7.5/10 from percy and 7.5/10 from me. We finished 12 fulkas and the whole bhaji in between the 3 of us - the third being PR who also liked it and probably will give it a 8/10. Because he ate his second dinner. :P

250 gm cut cauliflower
1 finely chopped onion (ground will also do, in retrospect)
2 teaspoonful ginger garlic paste
6 black peppers
1 clove
2 kokum
4 green chillies
100ml coconut milk.
a pinch of hing and salt to taste.

procedure is pretty simple:
heat oil in kadai
add hing
add the pepper and clove and let them crackle
add onion and saute for a couple of minutes
add ginger garlic paste and saute for a couple of minutes
add the slit chillies and the kokum and saute for couple of minutes
add salt to taste
add the chopped cauliflower, mix and cook for a minute or so
add a little water, cover and cook for a 5-10 minutes till flower done
taste, if all ok then you can remove the chillies and kokum, else leave it. It should be on the spicier side as we are yet to add coconut milk which is sweetish and will blunt the heat of the chilly.
add the coconut milk and let it simmer for a few minutes.

done. :)

Late Diwali lights

2009-11-07T14:30:00.001+05:30

Late Diwali lights, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

on Post Processing

2009-11-05T13:09:00.000+05:30

This one is the original as it came out of my Olympus SW850.

For all the heads who believe that doing PP is bad. "this is as-is from the camera" they claim, with pride. There is nothing wrong with only in-camera as equally as there is nothing wrong with photographic PP.

Getting the composition and exposure right as much as possible in the camera is a good ploy. But the camera sensors (and films emulsions) have severe limitations in the way they capture light. They rarely, if ever capture the scene as the eye sees and the heart feels ... the post processing gives the image the feel .. the thing you felt when you clicked it. Post processing is the next 50% of image making - after the capture. You can do better PP in the digital darkroom then what PP the camera can do in-camera.

This was more like the mood that day. The dramatic clouds were overpowering, dominating the scene. The sun-burned grass and landscape was drab and desolate.

High on Music, Listening to the Booze

2009-11-02T00:11:00.001+05:30

I started following a very interesting blog recently : High on Music, Listening to the Booze. He inspires me to listen to my music with a little bit more heart. His recent Steely Dan number reminded me of one of those I used to like of Steely.

The Ranthambhore National Park

2009-11-01T00:21:00.001+05:30

Jungle view, Ranthambhore National Park

(continued from here: Traveling to Ranthambhore)

I got down at Sawai Madhopur Stn. Unknown to me there was another set of travelers, 2 ladies and their 3 kids, who were part of our 'group', who were on the train with me. I was watching out for a man with a board with my name on it. When I met him I met these fellow travelers too. The station was abuzz with lots of people, a large majority of whom were firangs, all heading for the park.

The 4x4 gypsy took us to our hotel which was nice. As we were a day late the rest of the gang were already out for a safari. We had a nice lunch and relaxed as the April heat was terrible with 40+ in the shade.

I visited the park in the evening. And the next 2-3 days. I was amazed by it. It's a wonderful land, full of wildlife and maintained well. We were lucky that we had a guide who was driving around the park for the past 24 years and knew all the spots. He knew more about the animals than many researchers.

Here is the general look and feel of the park with some of it's less famous denizens. We were fortunate enough to sight the Tigress T-17 twice, the photos of which deserve an independent post.

Sambar grazing in open grassland forest

Open grassland, core off-limits area.

Sambar

Shikra bird of prey

King Vulture

Grey Partridge

Ruia Naka

2009-10-31T23:24:00.001+05:30

Abhijit Rao, 19th February 2005.

Naka. A place where humanity congregates. The faithfuls, the religious, the regulars, the observers, the avid arguers, the occasional sight seers ... all.
This is the place where you meet unexpected people.
And expected ones.
Like a fly to honey we are drawn to it. Here, in the indistinct murmour of voices one finds a unique peace.

Vishnu, of the Chai

Vishnu's Kettle

'Triangle', Ruia Naka

DP's of the Naka

friends

Sujay

Harshu, with his WWII style bike helmet.

Bhelwalla (now gone, but used to be there under the tree opp. Shery's)

Nityanand

Amey

Sai Juice

Om Sai Sandwich (now moved to opp. Matunga stn.)

Mani's

Note: This used to be on my 'homepage' which went down when tripod shut it down for some reason I dont know. It was up from 1998 to 2006 at least.

Beautiful Dreamer

2009-10-29T21:50:00.000+05:30

Early monsoon clouds, on the Murbad - Shahad strech

Beautiful Dreamer

Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all pass'd away!

Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng.

Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea,
Mermaids are chaunting the wild lorelie;
Over the streamlet vapors are borne,
Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn.

Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart,
E'en as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart,

Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

~Stephen Foster

Shelter

2009-10-29T00:19:00.000+05:30

Bus Stop

The late monsoon had raised havoc in the farmlands of northern Karnataka. As we traveled towards Gokak the rains fell continuous on the plains. The rivers were kissing the bridge bottoms. The crops lay rotting. Here we see a sundry group, men and animals, sheltering in the "Bus Stop".

Panchaganga

2009-10-27T01:02:00.001+05:30

This is the Panchaganga of Kolhapur and the bridge on the Kolhapur-Ratnagiri road. If you want to go to Panhala, you cross this bridge.

offerings for Jotiba (on sale)

2009-10-26T20:19:00.002+05:30

At the Jotiba devasthan near Kolhapur.

The Solitary Reaper

2009-10-24T04:33:00.002+05:30

Purple Flowers, Khandala

THE SOLITARY REAPER

Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.

No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so shrilling ne'er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.

Will no one tell me what she sings?--
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?

Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o'er the sickle bending;--
I listen'd, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.

~ William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

My Brother

2009-10-23T14:12:00.000+05:30

The Poet: Vivek Rao aka khekdu.

My brother's name is Abhijit
he studies in standard tenth
he has got a nice friendly look
and is broad in width and tall in length.

he wants to be a scientist
scientific is he
and I know when he grows up
a scientist he will be.

he is in his teens now
his age is fifteen
he is also quite brainy and kind
but sometimes a little mean

he also wants to travel
in the world so big
but one must be healthy for that
and he is as thin as a twig.

but he is aware of that now
and knows its' not enough to be long
and is exercising hard everyday
and is growing more and more strong.

he dreams of his own castle
which secret passageways
and his own robot servants
to do what he says

but for all this he has to grow up
and for that there are a few years
and as we cant tell time to hurry
it's no use shedding tears.

but now the SSC board exam
is very soon due
He is busy studying hard now
I wish him best of luck - wont you ?

-Vivek Rao in Feb 1992

of Deepawali Lights and Fireworks

2009-10-19T03:30:00.000+05:30

Yesterday night (17th) the city of Mumbai was bursting all over with the sound of a thousand crackers and the sparkle of a million lamps. More and more people have been asking for a less polluted and noisy festival with emphasis on lights not crackers. And slowly but surely it seems to be working.

I have been cooped up for a week trying to solve some problems. Suddenly I took the camera, tripod and rushed out to the terrace to click a few. I have always wanted to do so. I got a couple of burning embers on me too.

The pollution and smoke is visible. So are the lights and lanterns and firework displays. All in all it is a happy time. The beauty of the lit city shadowed the negatives. It was asking to be positive.

View Large On Black

View On Black

Rajendra Vallury aka Chota Father

2009-10-18T18:55:00.002+05:30

Rajendra Vallury aka Chota Father, originally uploaded by _quasi.

Music is your only friend ... until the end.

Love is never lost. It is eternal. It is the bond that binds people. We can cut loose from our end, but it still lives on, in the infinite universe. It gives company to those who keep it company.

Was that inspirational or was it the severe lack of alcohol in the past few weeks?

Photo taken at Mahabaleshwar where he threw both his phones to the other end of the room to show that nothing happens to them.

Gokak Falls

2009-10-16T08:56:00.001+05:30

Gokak Falls, originally uploaded by _quasi.

The waterfall at Gokak. From the mill side.

Hrushikesh Chavan (पिट्ट्या)

2009-10-14T13:06:00.001+05:30

Hrushikesh Chavan (पिट्ट्या), originally uploaded by _quasi.

experimental faces. expressions. kolhapur

Aditi (चिऊ)

2009-10-13T11:49:00.001+05:30

Aditi (चिऊ), originally uploaded by _quasi.

My brother's daughter. The apple of all our eyes. My most favourite person. :)

दगडू
चीउली
माऊ

Ganesh Karazgar (गणू)

2009-10-12T02:42:00.001+05:30

Ganesh Karazgar (गणू), originally uploaded by _quasi.

Experimental Faces. Sangli.

Chaitralee and Aditi

2009-10-11T10:08:00.001+05:30

Chaitralee and Aditi, originally uploaded by _quasi.

My Cousin's wife and daughter. Kolhapur. Faces. Expressions.

Anna (आण्णा)

2009-10-09T12:39:00.001+05:30

Anna (आण्णा), originally uploaded by _quasi.

My atya's father-in-law. He is a life long varkari. Now he is 94. Highly respected. Sangli. Experimental Faces

Pradeep Chavan

2009-10-09T00:18:00.001+05:30

Pradeep Chavan, originally uploaded by _quasi.

From Kolhapur. Faces. Expressions.

"worn and leathered by untold miles,
from behind the smoke he still smiles..."

At Jotiba

2009-10-08T02:55:00.003+05:30

At Jotiba, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

They use a different shade of red for the gulal here .. more like pink-red with a slight blue tinge. Surprisingly photography was not looked down here, even inside the sanctum. Most large Temples I have visited are run by a the priests. I think that is the single most negative to them. We have to please the priests, who are far from 'pure', to be able to get to the Gods.

I think the most peaceful temple is where you are the priest.

Serious Observations of a Funny World.

Waterfall at Gokak

2009-10-07T15:33:00.002+05:30

3rd October 2009

This is a magnificent waterfall at Gokak in north Karnataka. The British built a mill on the banks of this fall. There are a couple of ancient Shiv mandirs here too. This year the waterfall is fed by the late rains.

this is another video from someone else on youtube which shows the falls in full glory.

Hariharan, In Concert.

2009-10-07T01:42:00.000+05:30

the stage

At the Bandra Fest last week. I loved the performance. He is amazing. Chota (Raju) was on stage, with the guitar. Me, Percy, Nipra, Shot, Tyo and Trupti went over to watch. It was good fun.

Hariji on the large screen

Storm System over Satara

2009-10-06T14:52:00.001+05:30

Storm System over Satara, originally uploaded by _quasi.

This year (2009) we are experiencing a very late monsoon system which has put large parts of central India into a flood situation. This is over Satara clicked on the 29th September. We were on the way from Pune to Kolhapur. We encountered very heavy rain, thunder and lightening for more than a 100km from Satara till Kolhapur.

Rhymes of old.

2009-09-28T02:43:00.000+05:30

Anonymous him (Himanshu Mhatre) said...

For long he calls himself a creep,
And in the shadows of the moon he is found asleep.

And when he does not tend to his freaks,
He adorns the cloak of the geeks.

In the faint trail of smoke that leaves his breath,
Speaks of he of lost love and death.

But with all due respects 'onorable sire,
Your condition is far away from dire.

11:52 PM, March 26, 2006

Blogger quasi said...

they call me bad
they call me mad
then they call me a freak
and then a geek

I dont even know
what I seek
(and for that matter)
what I speak

stink of smoke
and of beer I reek
am the old poke
with all the cheek

there is method in the madness
(mind you)
and rhyme in the sadness
(find you)

But to this I will agree
O great One so free,
my condition is indeed far from dire
am just waiting for some baby to light my fire !!

hehe

1:15 AM, March 27, 2006

Anonymous him (Himanshu Mhatre) said...

And together we all burst hehehe,
but underneath the laughter you hear the wind say.
Its time my lad to move on, to make a new way,
For forever, these clouds of darkness cannot stay.

And like all other clouds they aren't our resident way,
And from turf to turf they will have to sway.
And it is time for our laughter to have its way,
as with its tremors the clouds burst, giving way to a brand new day.

6:27 PM, March 27, 2006

Seen in the comments on an entry posted by quasi at 23:12 on 24-Mar-2006

Karela Fry Solapuri

2009-09-26T02:07:00.001+05:30

Thin slices of Karela

You need:
4-6 tender karela's.
3-4 large onions, finely cut
kothimbir, lots
fresh scraped khobra of half a coconut
3-4 kokam pieces
Kala Tikhat (mixture of khada masala, garlic etc)

Scrape off lightly parts of the rough green outer covering
Cut thin slices, remove larger and harder seeds
Rub lots of (2-4 teaspoonfuls) salt on all the slices and leave for 30 minutes
Wash thoroughly 2-4 times, lightly squeezing the slices intermittently
Heat a largish quantity of oil, enough to fry/cook all the slices
Squeeze the water out of the slices and fry in oil on low-medium flame till they have reduced in sized and have become somewhat crispy.
get them out of the oil squeezing as much of the oil out as possible
add haldi and onions to remaining oil. add salt and cook till onions are pink
add the kala tikhat and the kokam and further cook till oil starts separating
Add the fried karela slices and cook on low flame till in reduces significantly in volume.
Add a little bit (1/2 - 1 teaspoon) of sugar, kothimbir and the coconut and cook for 2-4 minutes till all mixed.

nipra : 8/10
percy : 7.5/10
q : 8.5/10

I give it more because it was almost as good as what my mom makes. :) and it was a _lot_ of work.

Storm Clouds over Mumbai

2009-09-24T13:04:00.002+05:30

clouds, originally uploaded by acharekar.

Photo clicked by Percy with the old Minolta S414. I wish I could have clicked it - in fact I ran and assembled my camera .. and clicked too .. only to find that my CF card is with a friend who had borrowed it recently for a Ladak trip. :(

But at least I got to work on the photos. This one is my edit.

Word clouds from similar time of previous years

2009-09-22T20:42:00.003+05:30

This is the October 2005 (I had 22 post that month, highest in 2005) word cloud. Dominated by my bike trip with the guys and l.o.v.e and some escapes into arbit reading like Kant on Time. heh. Times change. The stomach is more real than many of those things.

October 2006: Echoes from my Kerela rip in August...

August 2007: Photography and Cleartrip

September 2008: Echoes off the boulders of Hampi (lingering echoes, they must be, from April), sunset's at goregaon, mahabaleshwar ... and the need to get away

This is how the blog looks to Wordle.net

2009-09-22T19:53:00.001+05:30

Current word cloud view of my blog as Wordle.net sees it .. Lots of cooking there as you can see .. ;)

Wanga Batata Rassa Bhaji, Solapuri

2009-09-22T01:13:00.000+05:30

Cut each wanga (brinjal, baingan) into 8 longitudinal pieces
cut a couple of potatoes into small chunks
finely cut 2 onions (if you got 4-6 wangi and 2 potatoes)

take oil, heat.
put haldi, hing and let is mix
add onion and saute till soft
add salt and crushed garlic (to taste, I prefer 4-6 cloves)
saute a bit more
add 2 large spoons of kala masala (or if you dont have that, mixture of garam masala nd chili power)
add 2 chopped tomatoes and cook a bit till tomatoes give up the juice
add the wangi and batata and mix
add 4-6 large spoon fulls of crushed goundnut power
mix and cook for couple of minutes
add water and bring to boil and let it simmer till potatoes cook. wangi will cook before the potatoes. this is rassa bhaji so put water accordingly.

we ate it with rice. was not bad.

sorry, forgot the photo. :)

Bhendi Fry Kolhapuri

2009-09-18T16:07:00.002+05:30

Bhendi-fry.jpg, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Wash and dry the bhendi.
Cut thin slices of Bhendi
smash lots of garlic
take oil in kadhai and heat
put rai and jira till they crackle
add the garlic and lots of kadipatta and chopped green chillies
fry for little while
add bhendi and fry for 5-10 minutes on very low flame
bhendi will shrivel, become darker and reduce in volume.
sprinkle with ground nut power or fresh khobra scrapes
sprinkle kothimbir

eat!

q:8/10
percy:8/10
nipra:7/10

Photo was a left handed shot with slippery mobile while eating. :) Sorry.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Reflections

2009-09-10T18:10:00.003+05:30

Reflections, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Faint echo on -y.

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Harihareshwar Beach

2009-09-03T01:08:00.000+05:30

A lightening charcoal sketch. (An attempt at least!)

Evening Sky

2009-09-01T21:20:00.002+05:30

Evening Sky, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Oh how Glorious thy colours art O' Nature!

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Tondli Batata

2009-09-01T21:16:00.003+05:30

Tondli Batata, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Tondli Batata
Slice (thin) the cleaned Tondli and Potatoes
Heat oil, add halad and one finely chopped onion and saute till onions pink
Add red chili powder and little 'goda' masala and salt to taste
Add potatoes and cook for 4-6 minutes
Add Tondli and one finely chopped tomato
Cook till well done (leave the tondli a little rare for crispiness)

Henjoy!

Nipra : 7/10
Percy : 8/10
Q : 7/10
Raju : 7.5/10

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Egg Curry Sholapuri

2009-09-01T02:10:00.004+05:30

20090831-EggCurry.jpg, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

A meal well eaten.

Egg Curry and Fulka with a Tomato-Onion-Curd-Chilli Salad. All finished. Four happy souls.

Egg Curry Sholapuri
8 eggs hard boiled for 5 minutes
onion + dry coconut power fry-roasted in oil on a shallow pan till deep brown
above mixture when cool, ground together with ginger, garlic and coriander.
haldi and kala-masala sauted in oil quickly
ground mixtures cooked in this for 1-2 minutes
salt to taste
eggs and a little water added and cooked.

Salad
1 onion shredded
3 tomatoes shredded
2 green chillies finely chopped
200gms of curd.
salt to taste
all mixed well together

percy : 8.5/10
q : 8/10
nipra : 8.5/10

hehe

Serious Observations of a Funny World

Red Maggie

2009-08-27T13:45:00.003+05:30

Red Maggie, originally uploaded by quasi's mobile.

Heat a little bit of oil.
Put an onion, finely chopped, in it and saute.
add Red chili powder to taste.
add 1 finely chopped beet, saute for some time
add dark soya to it and saute for a minute
add a little bit of water and cook for some time
add more water for 2 maggies
add 2 maggie masala sachets and bring to boil
add the noodles from the two packets
cook till well done

RED MAGGIE !

Nipra gave it 8/10

Serious Observations of a Funny World